adv. With ease. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Proof. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To elect beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Election beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. prééminence, L. praeeminentia. See Preëminent. ] The quality or state of being preëminent; superiority in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as, preëminence in honor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The preëminence of Christianity to any other religious scheme. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Painful preëminence! yourself to view
Above life's weakness, and its comforts too. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beneath the forehead's walled preëminence. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr. praeminere to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F. prééminent. See Pre-, and Eminent. ] Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent; superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of, others; rarely, surpassing others in evil, or in bad qualities; as, preëminent in guilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

In goodness and in power preëminent. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a preëminent degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To employ beforehand. “Preëmployed by him.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Preëmpted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëmpting. ] [ See Preëmption. ] 1. To settle upon (public land) with a right of preemption, as under the laws of the United States; to take by preemption. [ Also spelled pre-empt. ] [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. To acquire or take for oneself first (an object or right), thereby preventing others from acquiring; to appropriate; to arrogate. [ PJC ]

3. To supplant or take the place of (an action), due to changes in circumstances or priorities; as, the regular meeting was preempted by an emergency conference. [ PJC ]

4. To prevent or delay (an event) by acting beforehand; to head off; to preclude. [ PJC ]

n. [ Pref. pre- + emption: cf. F. préemption. See Redeem. ] The act or right of preemption. Specifically: (a) The act or right of purchasing before others. (b) The privilege or prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his household in preference to others. [ Eng. ] (c) The right of an actual settler upon public lands (particularly those of the United States) to purchase a certain portion at a fixed price in preference to all other applicants. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who holds a prior right to purchase certain public land. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to preëmption; having power to preëmpt; preëmpting. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. L. praeemptor. ] One who preëmpts; esp., one who preëmpts public land. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to preëmption. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. preón a clasp, bodkin; akin to D. priem punch, bodkin, awl, G. pfriem, Icel. prjōnn a knitting needle, pin, Dan. preen a bodkin, punch. ] A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preened p. pr. & vb. n. Preening. ] [ See Preen, n.; or cf. Prune. ] 1. To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; -- said of birds. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To trim up, as trees. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: To dress (oneself) carefully or stylishly; to primp. [ PJC ]

4. To pride (oneself) on one's accomplishments; to congratulate (oneself). [ PJC ]

v. i. To dress up neatly and smartly; to make oneself well-groomed and well-dressed. [ PJC ]

2. To feel proud of one's achievement; to swell or gloat. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preëngaged p. pr. & vb. n. Preëngaging ] To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy. [ 1913 Webster ]

But he was preëngaged by former ties. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Prior engagement, obligation, or attachment, as by contract, promise, or affection. [ 1913 Webster ]

My preëngagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To erect beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Press; throng. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To establish beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Settlement beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Infinite previous duration. [ R. ] “The world's preëternity.” Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Previous examination. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preëxamined p. pr. & vb. n. Preëxamining. ] To examine beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Preëxisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëxisting. ] To exist previously; to exist before something else; to exist before the current activity commenced; as, preexisting illnesses are not covered by this insurance policy. [ Also spelled pre-exist. ] [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 + PJC ]

n. 1. Existence in a former state, or previous to something else. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wisdom declares her antiquity and preëxistence to all the works of this earth. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain philosophers. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Preëxistence. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Existing previously; preceding existence; as, a preëxistent state. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Philos.) The theory of a preëxistence of souls before their association with human bodies. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Previous esteem or estimation. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Previous expectation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Ir. spre a spark, animation, spirit, Gael. spraic. Cf. Sprack. ] A merry frolic; especially, a drinking frolic; a carousal. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

spending spree an incident in which one spends money freely; -- usually designating indiscreet or reckless spending on unneeded items. [ PJC ]